How long can the perfect sailing weather for the Thursday and Sunday Holmes Hole Sailing Association (HHSA) races continue? There was a great turnout on Thursday of 20 boats. The evening was balmy and clear, with an adequate 8- to 10-knot southerly breeze. Sunday was even better.
After the short windward leg on Thursday, several boats converged on the ever-confusing and confounding Can 23A off East Chop. It seems that no matter how many times one has rounded that mark, the strength and direction of the current can be a surprise. Thursday’s resulting traffic jam was resolved, and everyone got on course to the next mark, off West Chop.
Troubadour, a Vineyard Haven Yacht Club Express 37, took the honors once again in the A division, with Phil Hale’s Tango, a J100, in second. Continuing the rivalry with Tango, Laurie and Tom Welch came in third aboard their own J100, Escape.
With 12 B division boats racing, Tyche, a Vineyard 15 skippered by Bow van Riper, took first place. An Alerion X28, Penelope, sailed by Mo Flam, came in second, and Silhouette, a Nonsuch 26 with Beck Colson at the helm, was third.
Sunday was the race to Chappaquiddick. The date is chosen with an eye to favorable tides in both directions. The wind was out of the southwest at 12 to 15 knots, and the sea dark blue, an ideal day for a sail. Most of the trip was on an exhilarating reach with a windward beat to the finish. Julia Lee, Woody Bowman’s 21-foot Catboat, won the B division of 11 boats. Tyche held second place despite taking a 10-second cut to his handicap because of his previous three consecutive wins. Heimkehr, an Alerion X28 owned and sailed by Mead Wyman, came in third out of 11 entrants.
In the A division, there were just two competitors: Escape, which won the day, and Scheggia, a Brenta 38 sailed by Tim Gollin. She had the shortest elapsed time of 01:33:09.
Holmes Hole Sailing Association races will resume after the Vineyard Cup. They are held on Thursdays and Sundays. All are welcome. Please check holmeshole.org for details.